Where Hope Shows Up

Bent County Community Center, Las Animas

In Las Animas, hope does not always arrive loudly; sometimes it shows up in a room full of teenagers filling out a survey. For instance, when Bent County Community Center began interviewing youth for its Las Animas Youth Empowered Support initiative, staff expected modest interest. Instead, nearly half of the town’s middle and high school students participated. What stood out even more than the numbers was their urgency.

“They were hyper-focused on helping their community,” says Robert Arguello, who has helped guide the Center’s growth over the years. “They wanted to connect with other young people who care. They want to make a difference.”

Bent County is a place outsiders often misunderstand. Persistent poverty, addiction, and crime have shaped daily life for many families. For years, young people had limited safe places to gather, few structured after-school opportunities, and little voice in shaping programs meant to serve them. The Bent County Community Center has steadily worked to change that reality by becoming a trusted hub for wellness, connection, and belonging.

Rather than rushing to launch new programming, the Center chose a slower, youth-centered path. Staff engaged adolescents directly in designing priorities and activities, building peer leadership and ownership from the start. Events, gatherings, and leadership opportunities have since drawn consistent participation, with young people showing up not just for fun but to build relationships and support one another.

“Young people here don’t just want something to do. They want a chance to help shape their community.”

The work has not been simple. Administrative changes at the county level created financial uncertainty and forced the organization to rethink how it could sustain its programs. At a pivotal moment, support from Caring for Colorado helped stabilize and strengthen the Center’s youth initiative, allowing staff to continue expanding inclusive spaces and prevention-focused programming.

Today, the most visible sign of progress is not a statistic. It is the joy young people bring into the building. Laughter during activities.

Conversations that stretch beyond school hallways. A growing sense that their voices matter.

Looking ahead, Arguello hopes the impact will extend far beyond Bent County. Many of these youth will eventually leave in search of opportunity. The Center’s goal is that they carry something lasting with them: confidence, pride in where they came from, and a belief that they can shape the future.

Caring for Colorado’s investment is helping make that possibility real. By supporting rural organizations that center youth voice and connection, the Foundation is helping communities like Las Animas nurture resilience today and leadership for tomorrow.

Visit their website to learn more.

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